DOCSLIB.ORG

John Taff, “Double No-Hitters for Pinehot” ©Diamondsinthedusk.Com

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
John Taff, “Double No-Hitters for Pinehot” ©Diamondsinthedusk.Com John Taff, “Double No-Hitters for Pinehot” ©DiamondsintheDusk.com Only July 15, 1910, Brownsville Brownie rookie pitcher July 15, 1910 John Taff pitches a no-hitter in the first game of a South- John Taff No-Hitter west Texas (D) League doubleheader against the Beeville Brownsville, Texas Orange Growers. Following the 90-minute, 5-0 win against Beeville, Taff gains a measure of national attention as it is the second no-hit, no-run game that talented right-hander has turned in within a three week span, having also no-hit the Corpus Christi Pelicans on June 27. Over his brief six-year professional career, the Austin, Texas, native and son of Bickler public school prinicipal J.J. Taff, is referred to in the press as either “John Taff” or “Bill Taff.” In addition to his multiple first names, Taff acquires sever- al interesting nicknames during his playing days such as John Taff “Possum Bill”, “Pinehot”, “Waco Bill” and “Elongated John.” 1913 Baltimore Orioles A 19-year-old Taff begins his organized baseball career in 1909 with the Browns- ville Brownies, one of South Texas’ top amateur teams. The pitcher/first baseman performs so well for the local nine that when the city joins the six-team Southwest Texas League the following year he is signed to a minor league contract and placed on the team’s opening day roster by manager S.H. Bell. Tabbed by Bell to be the Brownies’ opening day starter on April 21, Taff make his professional debut one to remember, pitching a 10-inning complete game 3-2 win over visiting Corpus Christi. Taff finishes his rookie campaign 16-11 with 102 strikeouts and 51 base on balls in John Taff Year by Year: 148 innings. Year Team League Level W-L INN H BB SO ERA In addition, Taff wins two more games in 1909 Brownsville Brownies - Amt - - - - - -- the league’s post-season championship 1910 Brownsville Brownies West Texas D 16-11 148.1 165 51 103 -- series against regular season cham- 1911 Waco Navigators Texas B 11-13 212.1 188 60 107 -- pion Victoria where the Brownies win 1912 Waco Navigators Texas B 20-11 285.0 213 75 145 -- 1913 Philadelphia Athletics AMERICAN ML 0-1 17.2 22 9 5 6.62 the league title winning four of the six Baltimore Orioles International AA 6-10 108.1 132 52 58 -- games played. 1914 Beaumont Exporters Texas B 15-10 243.0 210 62 134 -- 1915 3 Teams 2 Leagues A/B 7-10 102.0 98 40 54 -- Following his impressive first-year Beaumont Exporters Texas B 4-9 90.0 90 36 47 -- performance, Taff is sold to Waco of the Waco Navigators Texas B 3-0 - - - - -- Texas (B) League where in two sea- Chattanooga Lookouts Southern A 0-1 12.0 8 4 7 -- Mosers New Orleans AA Amt - - - - - -- sons with Ellis Hardy’s Navigators, he Major League Totals 1 Season 0-1 17.2 22 9 5 6.62 is 11-13 and 20-11. The popular Hardy Minor League Totals 6 Seasons 182-166 1098.2 1006 340 601 -- is forced to give up his managerial du- ties at the end of the 1912 season as it ML Debut: May 10, 1913 at White Sox Park, Chicago: relieved Broadwalk Brown at the start of the interferes with his duties in the cotton 8th inning in a 4-3 loss to Chicago; allowed 0 runs on 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout in 2 innings; (no business. decision). ML Finale: June 28, 1913 at Griffith Stadium, Washington: started; allowed two runs, five hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout in 3 innings; losing pitcher (0-1) Page 1 of 3: John Taff [2 of 3]: June 27, 1910 On September 17, Waco team president W.R. Davidson receives word that the American John Taff No-Hitter League’s Philadelphia Athletics have drafted his star pitcher in the annual minor league Brownsville, Texas draft. However, several other teams also claim to have drafted Taff and the question of who will acquire his services may have to be settled by drawing lots. A 23-year-old Taff has an solid spring training with the Athletics and remains with the club for the opening of the 1913 season. He makes his John Taff Major League Debut major league debut against the Chicago White White Sox Park, Chicago, Illinois, May 10, 1913 Sox on May 11, allowing only one hit in two scoreless innings in a 4-3 setback. On May 26, “Bill” Taff makes the only start of his major league career in the second game of a doubleheader with the Washington Senators. His mound opponent that afternoon in Shibe Park? Walter Johnson - enough said. “Waco Bill” gets through the opening stanza unscathed, but in the second inning four con- secutive hits drive in three runs and “tending largely to promote the hunch that Bill ought to be elsewhere instead of out there starting total annihilation in the face.” In one and 1/3 innings, Taff allows three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one while Johnson picks up one of 417 career victories. Taff pitches his final game in the majors on June 28, in an 8-3 loss to the Washington Senators. He is 0-1 with a 6.62 ERA in seven games when on July 2, “Waco Bill” is assigned to the Balti- more Orioles of the International (AA) League. “Taff was of no use to Mack. The Waco youngster did not have the stuff necessary to enable him to fool the American League batters. His work against Washington last Saturday was particularly weird.” -Philadelphia Inquirer, July 3, 1913 The Texan is back in the minors for good. Follow- Memphis Chickasaws 1, Chattanooga Lookouts 0 ing a 6-10 mark for the Orioles in 1913, he returns Andrews Field, Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 29, 1915 to the Lone Star State, signing with the Beaumont John Taff Exporters of the Texas (B) League where goes 15-10 1913 Philadelphia Athletics in 1914. In 1915, his final season in professional baseball, Taff toils for four different teams in three different states. Starting the season in the Beaumont rotation, he is 4-9 on May 4, when the Exporters sell his contract to Fort Worth. Despite picking up three wins in his first five appearances for the Panthers, he is released on June 15, with a 3-0 mark because he “failed completely to show the class expected of him and did not finish a game that he started while a member of the club.” Eight days later Taff is signed by the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern John Taff [3 of 3]: July 5, 1915 (A) Association where he is quickly inserted into the team’s starting rotation despite be- John Taff Final Game ing released by two teams in the first three months of the season. Nashville, Tennessee On June 29, Taff responds with one of his best games in years, shutting out the visiting Memphis Chickasaws on only one hit in seven innings. Unfortunately for Taff and first game starter Rube Marshall, the Lookouts fail to score nary a run in 18 innings in a twin bill defeat that drops their record to 33-38. On July 5, 1915, Taff’s final appearance in professional baseball comes to an abrupt end when he is struck in the temple by a pitch thrown by Nashville’s Tom Rogers and forced to leave the game after allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings. Two days later, saddled with a headache and a ERA of 6.00, Taff’s once promising career comes to an end when the Lookouts hand him his walking papers. Not be denied in his quest to remain in baseball, Taff makes his way south to New Orleans where he hopes to sign with New Orleans, another Southern Association team. However Pelicans’ manager John Dobbs decides to pass on the still-young (25-year-old) hurler, so Taff signs to play with the New Orleans Mosers of the New Orleans Amateur Association in hopes of catching on with some one the following spring. On May 15, 1961, Taff passes away in Houston, Texas at the age of 70. 1910 Brownsville Brownies -------------------------------------------------- “In all the towns that the Brownies play, the papers all state that they are among the cleanest and most gentlemanly ball players that have been in that section this season. That is the only kind of players Brownsville will have. When the Brownies are licked, they can take their medicine and not raise a howl, but when they are deliberately robbed of a game because the other team “must have the game at all costs,” they have a right to kick. Give us a fair deal and then beat us, and we are willing to admit that your team is the superior, but not otherwise.” - Brownsville Daily Herald, July 30, 1909.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • NCAA Division I Baseball Records
    Division I Baseball Records Individual Records .................................................................. 2 Individual Leaders .................................................................. 4 Annual Individual Champions .......................................... 14 Team Records ........................................................................... 22 Team Leaders ............................................................................ 24 Annual Team Champions .................................................... 32 All-Time Winningest Teams ................................................ 38 Collegiate Baseball Division I Final Polls ....................... 42 Baseball America Division I Final Polls ........................... 45 USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN/ American Baseball Coaches Association Division I Final Polls ............................................................ 46 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division I Final Polls ............................................................ 48 Statistical Trends ...................................................................... 49 No-Hitters and Perfect Games by Year .......................... 50 2 NCAA BASEBALL DIVISION I RECORDS THROUGH 2011 Official NCAA Division I baseball records began Season Career with the 1957 season and are based on informa- 39—Jason Krizan, Dallas Baptist, 2011 (62 games) 346—Jeff Ledbetter, Florida St., 1979-82 (262 games) tion submitted to the NCAA statistics service by Career RUNS BATTED IN PER GAME institutions
    [Show full text]
  • Trevor Bauer
    TREVOR BAUER’S CAREER APPEARANCES Trevor Bauer (47) 2009 – Freshman (9-3, 2.99 ERA, 20 games, 10 starts) JUNIOR – RHP – 6-2, 185 – R/R Date Opponent IP H R ER BB SO W/L SV ERA Valencia, Calif. (Hart HS) 2/21 UC Davis* 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 --- 1 0.00 2/22 UC Davis* 4.1 7 3 3 2 6 L 0 5.06 CAREER ACCOLADES 2/27 vs. Rice* 2.2 3 2 1 4 3 L 0 4.50 • 2011 National Player of the Year, Collegiate Baseball • 2011 Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year 3/1 UC Irvine* 2.1 1 0 0 0 0 --- 0 3.48 • 2011, 2010, 2009 All-Pac-10 selection 3/3 Pepperdine* 1.1 1 1 1 1 2 L 0 3.86 • 2010 Baseball America All-America (second team) 3/7 at Oklahoma* 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 --- 0 3.65 • 2010 Collegiate Baseball All-America (second team) 3/11 San Diego State 6.0 2 1 1 3 4 --- 0 2.95 • 2009 Louisville Slugger Freshman Pitcher of the Year 3/11 at East Carolina* 3.2 2 0 0 0 5 W 0 2.45 • 2009 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America 3/21 at USC* 4.0 4 2 1 0 3 --- 1 2.42 • 2009 NCBWA Freshman All-America (first team) 3/25 at Pepperdine 8.0 6 2 2 1 8 W 0 2.38 • 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year 3/29 Arizona* 5.1 4 0 0 1 4 W 0 2.06 • Posted a 34-8 career record (32-5 as a starter) 4/3 at Washington State* 0.1 1 2 1 0 0 --- 0 2.27 • 1st on UCLA’s career strikeouts list (460) 4/5 at Washington State 6.2 9 4 4 0 7 W 0 2.72 • 1st on UCLA’s career wins list (34) 4/10 at Stanford 6.0 8 5 4 0 5 W 0 3.10 • 1st on UCLA’s career innings list (373.1) 4/18 Washington 9.0 1 0 0 2 9 W 0 2.64 • 2nd on Pac-10’s career strikeouts list (460) 4/25 Oregon State 8.0 7 2 2 1 7 W 0 2.60 • 2nd on UCLA’s career complete games list (15) 5/2 at Oregon 9.0 6 2 2 4 4 W 0 2.53 • 8th on UCLA’s career ERA list (2.36) • 1st on Pac-10’s single-season strikeouts list (203 in 2011) 5/9 California 9.0 8 4 4 1 10 W 0 2.68 • 8th on Pac-10’s single-season strikeouts list (165 in 2010) 5/16 Cal State Fullerton 9.0 8 5 5 2 8 --- 0 2.90 • 1st on UCLA’s single-season strikeouts list (203 in 2011) 5/23 at Arizona State 9.0 6 4 4 5 5 W 0 2.99 • 2nd on UCLA’s single-season strikeouts list (165 in 2010) TOTAL 20 app.
    [Show full text]
  • Good Approach at the Plate
    Taking a Good Approach at the Plate !We have all see hitters who we feel overachieve and underachieve their mechanics and physical abilities at the plate. We cannot, for the life of us, figure out why the kid who absolutely crushes the ball in the cage, has solid mechanics, and a quick bat hits 50 points lower than the kid who looks far less impressive in the cage, has slower hands, and has questionable mechanics. If this is the case, look no further than pitch selection and plate approach. !We often hear coaches reminding players to have a proper approach at the plate, but what exactly does that mean? A good approach at the plate means different things depending on the age level you are coaching. Basic Levels !At the most basic levels, a proper approach simply means getting a good pitch to hit in any count and not swinging at pitches far out of the strike zone. Pitchers may not be changing speeds very much, and certainly are not locating pitches very well below the age of 12. At this age level simply emphasize getting a good pitch to hit and protecting the the strike zone with two strikes. Advanced Levels !Once pitchers begin to chance speeds and locate pitches, the concept of taking a quality at bat changes quite a bit. The idea at this level is still to get a good pitch to hit, but the concept of a “good pitch” needs to be refined. The toughest thing to get across to your players is that not every fastball that is a strike is a good pitch to hit.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rules of Scoring
    THE RULES OF SCORING 2011 OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES WITH CHANGES FROM LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL’S “WHAT’S THE SCORE” PUBLICATION INTRODUCTION These “Rules of Scoring” are for the use of those managers and coaches who want to score a Juvenile or Minor League game or wish to know how to correctly score a play or a time at bat during a Juvenile or Minor League game. These “Rules of Scoring” address the recording of individual and team actions, runs batted in, base hits and determining their value, stolen bases and caught stealing, sacrifices, put outs and assists, when to charge or not charge a fielder with an error, wild pitches and passed balls, bases on balls and strikeouts, earned runs, and the winning and losing pitcher. Unlike the Official Baseball Rules used by professional baseball and many amateur leagues, the Little League Playing Rules do not address The Rules of Scoring. However, the Little League Rules of Scoring are similar to the scoring rules used in professional baseball found in Rule 10 of the Official Baseball Rules. Consequently, Rule 10 of the Official Baseball Rules is used as the basis for these Rules of Scoring. However, there are differences (e.g., when to charge or not charge a fielder with an error, runs batted in, winning and losing pitcher). These differences are based on Little League Baseball’s “What’s the Score” booklet. Those additional rules and those modified rules from the “What’s the Score” booklet are in italics. The “What’s the Score” booklet assigns the Official Scorer certain duties under Little League Regulation VI concerning pitching limits which have not implemented by the IAB (see Juvenile League Rule 12.08.08).
    [Show full text]
  • Panthers and Indians Split Early-Season Doubleheader by Todd Forrest North Georgia News [email protected]
    Page 16A THETHE NORTH NORTH GEORGIA GEORGIA NEWS NEWS March March 2, 2016 2, 2016 SportsSee the Sports Section at nganews.com Mock Trial dominates at District 10&U All Stars headed to State Union County’s Mock Trial Team District competition award winners (left to right): Sage Royston - Outstanding Attorney, Kat Capstick - Outstanding Witness, Matt Peney - Outstanding Witness, Canaan Dyer - Outstanding Witness, Brooke Hamby - Outstanding Attorney. Back row L-R: Assistant Coach Jason Seabolt, Coach Shane Mullanack. Middle row: Jaycee Seabolt, Cartersville - The Union 12-out-of-12 evaluator ballots, Outstanding Witness awards. Lara Turner, Kyla Mullanack, Morgan Warren, Tessah Collins, Assistant Coach Kayla Phillips. Front County High School Mock Trial and outperforming Union’s Union County is now one row: Kamryn Mull, Chloe Potts, Georgia Patton, Emily Lockwood, Layla Akins. team has done it again. 2014 District-winning Mock of the final eight teams in the Cleveland - Congratula- County to earn a spot in the day and they will play Saturday Over the weekend, the Trial team that won 11-of-12 State and will take part in the tions to the Union County Rec- District Championship against morning at 11:30 a.m. on Court Mock Trial team defeated Pine- ballots. State competition on Saturday, reation Department’s 10&Under Lumpkin County, who came 1 vs the loser of Rabun County/ crest Academy at the Bartow Five team members March 19th at the Gwinnett Jus- Girls All Star Team, who placed out on top. Morgan County. County Courthouse for its sec- claimed a total of seven indi- tice Center in Lawrenceville.
    [Show full text]
  • Pensacola Blue Wahoos Double-A Affiliate Miami Marlins Double-A South Game #8, Home Game #2 (0-1), Pensacola Blue Wahoos (4-3) Vs
    2021 Game Notes Pensacola Blue Wahoos Double-A Affiliate Miami Marlins www.BlueWahoos.com/Media Double-A South Game #8, Home Game #2 (0-1), Pensacola Blue Wahoos (4-3) vs. Birmingham Barons (6-1), 6:35 PM CT Probable Pitching Matchup RHP Kade McClure (0-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Jake Eder (1-0, 0.00) Wednesday, May 12, Birmingham Barons vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 6:35 PM CT Thursday, May 13, Birmingham Barons vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 6:35 PM, RHP Emilo Vargas (1-0, 3.60) vs. LHP Brandon Leibrandt (0-0, 0.00) Friday, May 14, Birmingham Barons vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 6:35 PM, LHP Konnor Pilkington (1-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Jeff Lindgren (0-1, 7.20) Saturday, May 15, Birmingham Barons vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 6:05 PM, LHP John Parke (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Will Stewart (0-1, 9.00) Sunday, May 16, Birmingham Barons vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 2:05 PM, TBA vs. TBA Monday, May 17, OFF DAY 2021 At A Glance Blue Wahoos vs. Barons Record 4-3, 1st, -- GB 2021 Overall: 0-1 Home: 0-1 Away: 0-0 Home Attendance (Total/Average) 3,669/3,669 2019 Overall: 5-6 Home: 4-1 Away: 1-5 Come From Behind Wins 1 2018 Overall: 4-6 Home: 2-3 Away: 2-3 Last Shutout By Blue Wahoos (0 in 2021) 9/2/19 at MTG (8-0) 2017 Overall: 6-4 Home: 4-1 Away: 2-3 Last Shutout By Opponent 8/19/19 at MIS (0-1; F/7) Vs.
    [Show full text]
  • Baseball/Softball
    July2006 ?fe Aatuated ScowS& For Basebatt/Softbatt Quick Keys: Batter keywords: Press this: To perform this menu function: Keyword: Situation: Keyword: Situation: a.Lt*s Balancescoresheet IB Single SAC Sacrificebunt ALT+D Show defense 2B Double SF Sacrifice fly eLt*B Edit plays 3B Triple RBI# # Runs batted in RLt*n Savea gamefile to disk HR Home run DP Hit into doubleplay crnl*n Load a gamefile from disk BB Walk GDP Groundedinto doubleplay alr*I Inning-by-inning summary IBB Intentionalwalk TP Hit into triple play nlr*r Lineupcards HP Hit by pitch PB Reachedon passedball crRL*t List substitutions FC Fielder'schoice WP Reachedon wild pitch alr*o Optionswindow CI Catcher interference E# Reachon error by # ALT+N Gamenotes window BI Batter interference BU,GR Bunt, ground-ruledouble nll*p Playswindow E# Reachedon error by DF Droppedfoul ball ALr*g Quit the program F# Flied out to # + Advanced I base alr*n Rosterwindow P# Poppedup to # -r-r Advanced2 bases CTRL+R Rosterwindow (edit profiles) L# Lined out to # +++ Advanced3 bases a,lr*s Statisticswindow FF# Fouledout to # +T Advancedon throw 4 J-l eLt*:t Turn the scoresheetpage tt- tt Groundedout # to # +E Advanced on effor l+1+1+ .ALr*u Updatestat counts trtrft Out with assists A# Assistto # p4 Sendbox score(to remotedisplay) #UA Unassistedputout O:# Setouts to # Ff, Edit defensivelineup K Struck out B:# Set batter to # F6 Pitchingchange KS Struck out swinging R:#,b Placebatter # on baseb r7 Pinchhitter KL Struck out looking t# Infield fly to # p8 Edit offensivelineup r9 Print the currentwindow alr*n1 Displayquick keyslist Runner keywords: nlr*p2 Displaymenu keys list Keyword: Situation: Keyword: Situation: SB Stolenbase + Adv one base Hit locations: PB Adv on passedball ++ Adv two bases WP Adv on wild pitch +++ Adv threebases Ke1+vord: Description: BK Adv on balk +E Adv on error 1..9 PositionsI thru 9 (p thru rf) CS Caughtstealing +E# Adv on error by # P.
    [Show full text]
  • Here Comes the Strikeout
    LEVEL 2.0 7573 HERE COMES THE STRIKEOUT BY LEONARD KESSLER In the spring the birds sing. The grass is green. Boys and girls run to play BASEBALL. Bobby plays baseball too. He can run the bases fast. He can slide. He can catch the ball. But he cannot hit the ball. He has never hit the ball. “Twenty times at bat and twenty strikeouts,” said Bobby. “I am in a bad slump.” “Next time try my good-luck bat,” said Willie. “Thank you,” said Bobby. “I hope it will help me get a hit.” “Boo, Bobby,” yelled the other team. “Easy out. Easy out. Here comes the strikeout.” “He can’t hit.” “Give him the fast ball.” Bobby stood at home plate and waited. The first pitch was a fast ball. “Strike one.” The next pitch was slow. Bobby swung hard, but he missed. “Strike two.” “Boo!” Strike him out!” “I will hit it this time,” said Bobby. He stepped out of the batter’s box. He tapped the lucky bat on the ground. He stepped back into the batter’s box. He waited for the pitch. It was fast ball right over the plate. Bobby swung. “STRIKE TRHEE! You are OUT!” The game was over. Bobby’s team had lost the game. “I did it again,” said Bobby. “Twenty –one time at bat. Twenty-one strikeouts. Take back your lucky bat, Willie. It was not lucky for me.” It was not a good day for Bobby. He had missed two fly balls. One dropped out of his glove.
    [Show full text]
  • Baseball Cyclopedia
    ' Class J^V gG3 Book . L 3 - CoKyiigtit]^?-LLO ^ CORfRIGHT DEPOSIT. The Baseball Cyclopedia By ERNEST J. LANIGAN Price 75c. PUBLISHED BY THE BASEBALL MAGAZINE COMPANY 70 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY BALL PLAYER ART POSTERS FREE WITH A 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO BASEBALL MAGAZINE Handsome Posters in Sepia Brown on Coated Stock P 1% Pp Any 6 Posters with one Yearly Subscription at r KtlL $2.00 (Canada $2.00, Foreign $2.50) if order is sent DiRECT TO OUR OFFICE Group Posters 1921 ''GIANTS," 1921 ''YANKEES" and 1921 PITTSBURGH "PIRATES" 1320 CLEVELAND ''INDIANS'' 1920 BROOKLYN TEAM 1919 CINCINNATI ''REDS" AND "WHITE SOX'' 1917 WHITE SOX—GIANTS 1916 RED SOX—BROOKLYN—PHILLIES 1915 BRAVES-ST. LOUIS (N) CUBS-CINCINNATI—YANKEES- DETROIT—CLEVELAND—ST. LOUIS (A)—CHI. FEDS. INDIVIDUAL POSTERS of the following—25c Each, 6 for 50c, or 12 for $1.00 ALEXANDER CDVELESKIE HERZOG MARANVILLE ROBERTSON SPEAKER BAGBY CRAWFORD HOOPER MARQUARD ROUSH TYLER BAKER DAUBERT HORNSBY MAHY RUCKER VAUGHN BANCROFT DOUGLAS HOYT MAYS RUDOLPH VEACH BARRY DOYLE JAMES McGRAW RUETHER WAGNER BENDER ELLER JENNINGS MgINNIS RUSSILL WAMBSGANSS BURNS EVERS JOHNSON McNALLY RUTH WARD BUSH FABER JONES BOB MEUSEL SCHALK WHEAT CAREY FLETCHER KAUFF "IRISH" MEUSEL SCHAN6 ROSS YOUNG CHANCE FRISCH KELLY MEYERS SCHMIDT CHENEY GARDNER KERR MORAN SCHUPP COBB GOWDY LAJOIE "HY" MYERS SISLER COLLINS GRIMES LEWIS NEHF ELMER SMITH CONNOLLY GROH MACK S. O'NEILL "SHERRY" SMITH COOPER HEILMANN MAILS PLANK SNYDER COUPON BASEBALL MAGAZINE CO., 70 Fifth Ave., New York Gentlemen:—Enclosed is $2.00 (Canadian $2.00, Foreign $2.50) for 1 year's subscription to the BASEBALL MAGAZINE.
    [Show full text]
  • Improving the FIP Model
    Project Number: MQP-SDO-204 Improving the FIP Model A Major Qualifying Project Report Submitted to The Faculty of Worcester Polytechnic Institute In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by Joseph Flanagan April 2014 Approved: Professor Sarah Olson Abstract The goal of this project is to improve the Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) model for evaluating Major League Baseball starting pitchers. FIP attempts to separate a pitcher's controllable performance from random variation and the performance of his defense. Data from the 2002-2013 seasons will be analyzed and the results will be incorporated into a new metric. The new proposed model will be called jFIP. jFIP adds popups and hit by pitch to the fielding independent stats and also includes adjustments for a pitcher's defense and his efficiency in completing innings. Initial results suggest that the new metric is better than FIP at predicting pitcher ERA. Executive Summary Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is a metric created to measure pitcher performance. FIP can trace its roots back to research done by Voros McCracken in pursuit of winning his fantasy baseball league. McCracken discovered that there was little difference in the abilities of pitchers to prevent balls in play from becoming hits. Since individual pitchers can have greatly varying levels of effectiveness, this led him to wonder what pitchers did have control over. He found three that stood apart from the rest: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. Because these events involve only the batter and the pitcher, they are referred to as “fielding independent." FIP takes only strikeouts, walks, home runs, and innings pitched as inputs and it is scaled to earned run average (ERA) to allow for easier and more useful comparisons, as ERA has traditionally been one of the most important statistics for evaluating pitchers.
    [Show full text]
  • National Pastime a REVIEW of BASEBALL HISTORY
    THE National Pastime A REVIEW OF BASEBALL HISTORY CONTENTS The Chicago Cubs' College of Coaches Richard J. Puerzer ................. 3 Dizzy Dean, Brownie for a Day Ronnie Joyner. .................. .. 18 The '62 Mets Keith Olbermann ................ .. 23 Professional Baseball and Football Brian McKenna. ................ •.. 26 Wallace Goldsmith, Sports Cartoonist '.' . Ed Brackett ..................... .. 33 About the Boston Pilgrims Bill Nowlin. ..................... .. 40 Danny Gardella and the Reserve Clause David Mandell, ,................. .. 41 Bringing Home the Bacon Jacob Pomrenke ................. .. 45 "Why, They'll Bet on a Foul Ball" Warren Corbett. ................. .. 54 Clemente's Entry into Organized Baseball Stew Thornley. ................. 61 The Winning Team Rob Edelman. ................... .. 72 Fascinating Aspects About Detroit Tiger Uniform Numbers Herm Krabbenhoft. .............. .. 77 Crossing Red River: Spring Training in Texas Frank Jackson ................... .. 85 The Windowbreakers: The 1947 Giants Steve Treder. .................... .. 92 Marathon Men: Rube and Cy Go the Distance Dan O'Brien .................... .. 95 I'm a Faster Man Than You Are, Heinie Zim Richard A. Smiley. ............... .. 97 Twilight at Ebbets Field Rory Costello 104 Was Roy Cullenbine a Better Batter than Joe DiMaggio? Walter Dunn Tucker 110 The 1945 All-Star Game Bill Nowlin 111 The First Unknown Soldier Bob Bailey 115 This Is Your Sport on Cocaine Steve Beitler 119 Sound BITES Darryl Brock 123 Death in the Ohio State League Craig
    [Show full text]
  • TABLE of CONTENTS
    - The RULES of FASTBALL 45 FASTBALL 45 is innovative and dynamic! An exciting new product with modifications to provide a higher paced and intense version of softball. The concept is designed to enhance the best parts of the game with higher frequency. To achieve this state of play traditional rules have been broken and radicalised to; increase the amount of ball in play, increase double plays, scoring opportunities and the points system itself. FASTBALL 45 Overview: - 45 mins or 4 innings - 3 balls and 3 strikes - 4 outs per inning - Double play clears an inning - Runner(s) starting on base every inning - Double points for successful squeeze plays - Baserunners able to lead off earlier - Offensive power plays - Yellow and red cards. TABLE of CONTENTS Note WBSC rules apply except for the following modifications. 1. THE GAME REGULATION GAME - 4 innings or 45 mins. TIME LIMIT PLAYING RULES © 2019 Softball New Zealand Inc. All rights reserved - Time Limit for all FASTBALL 45 games shall be 45 mins. Where time does not allow for the complete playing of games as per Rule 1.2.1 (SNZ). The following governs the rules surrounding the time keeping of such games. a. One person to monitor time (official scorer) b. If a regulation game is completed prior to time then the game ceases c. If a regulation game is incomplete at time, then the score will revert back to the last completed innings unless the home team (team batting second) is winning. If the last completed innings is a tie, then the winner will be determined by, 1) number of hits 2) number of home runs 3) double plays 4) squeeze plays 5) double steals d.
    [Show full text]